The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-06-15
JoHNsTowN SUFFERS SEVERELY

eSf'A'SAO'N ooit Lno SL' LtA-Li
In last weeks HERALD we gave AN accoun
cienteily high water, but at the time of writ
ing the article Tuesday afternoon, we had n,
idea of the extent of the food, or of the grea
destruction of property then going on in dit
the northern end, along the banks of th,
Stonycreek The first intimation we hat
was about half-past six o clock Tuesday even
ing, after the HERALD had gone TO press
when telegram was received from Johns
town stating that a portion of the kernvill,
bridge had been washed away and that 1
large portion of the city was under water
The telegraph wires were down along tn,
line Of the Somerset & Cambria Railroad an6
no news could be obtained from the north oi
the county. The nofth-bound train on tn,
$. Il c. Il. r. arrived here on time Wednes
day morning and number of persons took
passage for Johnstown and other points-lit
tie dreaming at the time that il would be
weeks before a passenger could be carried
over the 5. q G. between Somerset and Johns
town. The train got a. far AS Geger's station
when il encountered a landslide and had to
return to lockwood. A repair gang was AT
once put to work to remove the ground from
the railroad track and TO put the telegraph
wires in position, The trains from the east
and wes, were all greatly delayed Tuesday
and no mail was received AT Somerset till
late in the evening The telegraph wires
were gotten into position wednesday when
it was learned that almost every railroad
bridge between Somerset and Johnstown had
been carried away or badly wrecked aud that
il would take at least ten days TO get the
track in condition 10 run a train over it.
For several days there was no mail service
between Somerset and Friedens, Stoystown,
Hooyersville and other towns in the north
end OF the county The HERALDs for that
section were sent ont Wednesday by special
carriers. Postmaster Coifroth has since made
arrangements for mail service for that end OF
the county
From all sections North, East. aud West
of Somerset stories of high wafer and bridges
being washed away came in. In Jefferson
township large county bridge that had
been standing for many years was swept
away In Somerset, Jenner, Quemahoning
Stonycreek, Conemaugh and Paint town
ships the greatest damage was done, but be-
tween Somersetand Bethel, particularly along
the stonycreek, the destruction was the
greatest.
At an early hour Friday morning HER
AID correspondent accompanied by several
other gentlemen started to drive over the
flooded district and the following IS part of
what they saw and heard
The bridge onth Somerset and Stoystown
road that spans the small stream at Philip
Cupps had been carried away, and the fields
and meadows bordering the stream had been
under several feet of water and the growing
crops badly damaged.
Al Friedens the ; & C. Railroad was badly
washed out aud a small bridge carried away
At Mostoller's station the large covered
county bridge was carried away, At this
place was located the Johnstown Lumber
saw mill and boom The boom
was filled with hundreds of logs. and when
il broke they dashed down the stream with
suah force a. 70 completely carry away one
of the iron railroad bridges short distance
below aud. To move two Others from their
piers The saw mill was badly wrecked;
The loss Of the company is very heavy.
At Sprucetown Mr.. Joseph spccht was the
heaviest loser. His pig-pen chicken house
and other outbuildings were carried away
together with new blacksmith shop which
had Just been fitted out with new tools the
evening before. Sixty chickens were in the
coop when ii floated away. He managed to
drive his pigs out of the pen and save them.
His new store room, and cellar under it
were flooded, and many valuable goods de
.iroyed His grist mill was badly damaged
and by reason of the fore bay breaking it
will be some time before lac will be able to
operate it again He estimates his loss at
s2J0000
iy bridgc~eighty feet long, about onr-fouuh
Of mile east Of Stoyestown was carried off
* was also the bridge al Trostle's mill. The
Trostle's branch bridge was knocked from
Is abuuments but is Still standing.
The county bridge at Jacob Zimmerman
near stoyestown, was destroyed as was also
he county bridge at James kimmell's, about
hree-iourths Of mile east Of Stoyestown.
The large iron railroad bridge between
spruceiown and Hooversville was consider
IDLY damaged Several of the large stones
we're washed out OF the piers and the middle
ection of the bridge was moved from four
o five feet
Hooversville suffered the greatest loss and
lamage. and the once beautiful and thriv-
ng little village presented TO the view of the
eporter a scene of snch utter desolation as he
,uilt on a sandy bottom, aanked on the west
" an abrupt bill and bounded on the north,
outh and cast by the Stonycreek, which at
his point is a stream of considerable dimen- I
he hill, and is a considerable distance above
he level of the town The houses, from six
y To seventy-iive in number, were mostly
veil built frame structures, neatly painted
nd surrounded by pleasant yards and well /
.ept and cultivated gardens. To-day there !
scarcely dwelling house in the town that
tands securely on its foundation. There is /
ot a stable in the town. The smaller out /
eivable shape and direction. Almost every /
estige of garden, yard, tree and shrub has
een swept away. There are great holes or
ulleys washed in the streets, especially those /
hem impossible. In many places the street 4
nd division lines are completely obliterated, 1
he sandy soil being washed away cleardown !
, the rock.
The water rose SO rapidly and rushed over /
he town 50 suddenly and with such resist 1
- force that the inhabitants did not have !
me to remove anything from their houses /
nd it was with great difficulty that many of I
hem got TO places of safety. Most ofthem
ushed across the bridge 10 high land The /
'ater was at its highest at 10 o'clock and
egan to subside about twenty minutes af-
srwards.
4 number of thrilling and NARROW escapes
-om death were made. Mr. Isaiah Crissey,
4 attempting to cross the street from the
hop in which he was working to his uncle's |
ouse. which stood on high land. was car
led off his feet by the force of the water and
ias rescued by Mr. Grant Rodgers, who oc